Swifties lose it after lucky fan puts iconic Eras Tour 22 hat on eBay for $20,000

By Charlie Sawyer

Published May 21, 2024 at 12:51 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

58061

Swifties aren’t exactly known for their calm nature or forgiving disposition. And when it comes to the iconic Eras tour, Taylor Swift stans do not appreciate when people casually part ways with mementoes that are cherished by Swifties everywhere. So, you can imagine why it didn’t go down very well in the Swiftosphere when the recipient of Swift’s coveted ‘22’ hat tried to sell it on eBay for $20,000.

Anyone who’s been following the Eras tour knows that for each show, one lucky individual is chosen to receive the iconic ‘22’ black hat—originally featured in the music video for the Red track.

In August 2023, Swift bestowed the hat on Bianka Bryant, late basketball player Kobe Bryant’s youngest daughter—a moment that immediately went viral on TikTok.

@wslam

Swifties at heart 💜💫 🎥: @Zoe Dokas

♬ original sound - wslam

And now, one other lucky ‘22’ hat recipient has decided to put her own memento on eBay, a decision that has Swifties going feral. Back in May 2023, TikToker Jeana Linzy’s little sister was chosen to be given the hat during Swift’s show in New Jersey.

@jeanaholly

When your little sister gets the 22 hat ❤️ thank you so much @Taylor Swift #taylorswift #22hat #swifttok #swiftie #babyswiftie @Hollay linzy💗✨✨

♬ 22 - Taylor Swift

Linzy’s video of the moment now has 2.6 million views and 474,500 likes. One user commented: “She can wear it on her 22 birthday,” while another netizen noted, “Oh my gosh what a lucky girl, she’ll remember that for the rest of her life.”

Fast forward to May 2024 and a Swiftie shared a screenshot on X, formerly Twitter, of an eBay listing selling that very hat for, wait for it, $20,000. The user wrote in her post: “OMG someone is selling the 22 hat?! Ugh I hate people!!!”

Immediately, people began criticising the family who’d put the hat up for sale, claiming that it was beyond disrespectful to cash in on a memento another Swift fan would likely treasure forever.

One netizen wrote: “Taylor would be so disappointed. I hope she doesn’t see this because if she did, she could, not saying she will, but could stop giving the hats out,” while another commented, “I really hope she and her team sees this. They should be giving it to true swifties, especially OG swifties, who’d treasure this. Not random kids who weren’t even alive for most of Taylor’s career. I hope they do see this and change their criteria and start giving it to real fans.”

Details from the listing explain that the money the family get will go directly into a college fund for the youngest daughter. According to Pedestrian, the mother of the family eventually responded to the online criticism, circulating a message that insinuated it was the young girl’s decision to sell the hat: “If she decides she doesn’t want to sell it the listing will be [taken] down. I honour my kids’ decisions so even if she [doesn’t] go to college she can use this money for a head start in her life and or business that she chooses.”

This did quell other netizens who had begun to believe that the eBay listing was fraudulent. Either way, whether you agree with the family’s decision or not, it’s true that nothing will ever get past the keen eyes of a Swifty.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

Which surprise songs is Taylor Swift performing during the Eras tour? A guide on what to expect

By Charlie Sawyer

Taylor Swift and Matty Healy split: Let’s give a round of applause to the worst PR move ever

By Eliza Frost

If everyone has an AI boyfriend, what does that mean for the future of Gen Z dating?

By Eliza Frost

Jessie Cave was banned from a Harry Potter fan convention because of her OnlyFans account

By Charlie Sawyer

Gavin Casalegno cancelled? The Summer I Turned Pretty fans turn on him amid cast drama

By Eliza Frost

Taylor Swift announces new album on Travis Kelce’s podcast. Everything we know about TS12 so far

By Charlie Sawyer

Father of former Harry Potter star gives serious warning to the new child stars in HBO Max reboot

By Eliza Frost

Netflix is predicting your next favourite show based on your zodiac sign 

By Eliza Frost

Are you in Group 7? Explaining the latest viral TikTok trend

By Eliza Frost

Misogyny, sexism, and the manosphere: how this year’s Love Island UK has taken a step backwards

By Eliza Frost

Why is Taylor not Team Conrad in The Summer I Turned Pretty?

By Eliza Frost

Couples who meet online are less happy in love, new research finds

By Eliza Frost

Bad timing? Gavin Casalegno’s Dunkin’ ad sparks backlash over actor’s alleged conservative views

By Eliza Frost

What is Banksying? Inside the latest toxic dating trend even worse than ghosting

By Eliza Frost

The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Chris Briney is at the centre of a new love triangle, but this time for an audio erotica story 

By Eliza Frost

Cruz Beckham’s girlfriend Jackie Apostel defends the couple’s age gap relationship 

By Eliza Frost

Everything to know about Justin Lee Fisher, arrested at Travis Kelce’s home over Taylor Swift deposition papers from Justin Baldoni

By Eliza Frost

What is the Gen Z stare, and why are millennials on TikTok so bothered by it?

By Charlie Sawyer

Will Greta Thunberg reach Gaza safely amid Israel’s aid blockade?

By Charlie Sawyer

Gen Zers are taking out travel insurance policies for their Labubus ahead of summer